Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security

[Richard Washington]

More landmine explosions in N Mali -
This time between Kidal and the airport

2 aid workers hurt in landmine blast in Mali | News24

[priffe]

Drone war in NE Mali
French, Mali troops kill 10 suspected Islamist militants - chicagotribune.com

[priffe]

The Guardian/Le Monde on the situation in NE Mali.
Jihadists return to northern Mali a year after French intervention | World news | Guardian Weekly

[Richard Washington]

The bloke implicated in kidnapping Algerian diplomats in Gao in April 2012, Omar Ould Hamaha, aka red beard, has been killed by French forces in the Amettetai Valley, Kidal region. Drones at work by all accounts.

French kill jihadist commander in Mali | News24

[priffe]

MBM again

Belmokhtar empire based on crime | Magharebia

[andrasz]

Nearly a month old, but have not seen this bit of news picked up anywhere... :

Algerian army confiscate 40 missiles near Libyan border | Shanghai Daily

[priffe]

News from nothern Mali
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mali.../20140328.aspx

The French now have a permanent base in Tessalit, and a presence of 1600 troops. This is quite a change for the Sahara.
Using drones for surveillance and helicopter gunships for attack. Partnering with the Americans.
Tuaregs are fractioning again along tribal lines, idnan vs ifoghas.
Algeria headed for presidential elections April 17 with the ailing Bouteflika running for a fourth term, have sent 100,000 troops to the southern and eastern borders. Perhaps they will finally come to accept the fact that Morocco is not their main enemy.

[Dave The Hat]

French raid near Timbuktu to free the aid workers

BBC News - French troops free aid workers kidnapped in northern Mali

[priffe]

MUJAO just reported that French hostage Leal is dead "because France is our enemy" as they said, without providing any details.
Mali: Le groupe djihadiste Mujao annonce la mort de l'otage français Gilberto Rodrigues Leal - 20minutes.fr

[Chris Scott]

If true that leaves four Europeans still in captivity, presumably in north Mali.
Serge Lazarevic, one of the 'geologists' snatched in November 2011 at Hombori, and the Dutch, Swedish and a South African/Brit) taken from Timbuktu a day later.

http://saharaoverland.wordpress.com/kidnappings/

[priffe]

So no bombings and no kidnappings for a year?

Al Qaeda on the run

[priffe]

After destroying the tombs in TB2 the salafists are now reportedly busy destroying rock art in SW Libya, since God don't like it
Libye : Les salafistes wahhabites libyens détruisent un site de 12.000 ans d’âge | Algérie 1

[sherifsalem]

The return of Belmokhtar...

Algeria confronts terror threat | Magharebia

[Gipper]

Doesn't look like things have improved much in the Kidal/Gao area:


BBC News - Mali Tuareg rebels kidnap officials amid deadly clashes

[priffe]

Mohktar Belmohktar arrested by American Special Ops in Libya Monday?
Mokhtar Belmokhtar dit (Le borgne) aurait été arrêté
only one source. If correct, he was in Benghazi when new strongman general Hifter
Also, tuareg rebels have ran the Malian army out of Kidal in a carnage.